Born on September 13,1967 in Los Angeles. Started playing drums at 8 years old. At 13, bought first pro drum kit. [5 piece Ludwig with Zildjian cymbals] and took drum lessons from Jim Engle and Joel Gallant . Started band DIZASTER in 1983 with Dave Navarro and played LA club dates. In 1986 joined JANES ADDICTION and two weeks later Dave joined. In 1987 the self titled LP was released on XXX records. 1988 NOTHING SHOCKING on WB was released.
1990 RITUAL DE LO HABITUAL was released on WB ,1991 the band broke up..In 1992 SP joined INFECTIOUS GROOVES and stayed for a year.

In 1993 SP started a new band PORNO FOR PYROS and released a self titled LP on WB. In 1995 SP started another new band named BANYAN and released a CD on Cyber Octave. In 1996 PORNO FOR PYROS released GOOD GOS URGE on WB. IN 1997 Flea and Dave joined up with SP and JANES ADDICTION for a tour (relapse tour) a movie (3 Days) and some recordings (Kettle Whistle) In 1998 SP made the second BANYAN CD for Cyber Octave called ANY TIME AT ALL. In 1999 SP joined Tommy Lee in METHODS OF MAYHEM. Toured for a year.

In 2000 SP started playing JANES shows with Martine LeNoble on bass. In 2001 JANES started on the new CD for Capitol Records. Chris Chaney joined the band on bass and STRAYS was released in 2003. In 2004 SP released BANYAN'S third CD called LIVE AT PERKINS PALACE on Sanctuary Records. 2005 SP started a new band called THE PANIC CHANNEL and is releasing the music in the fall of 2005.

The music therapy drum circles have opened up new doors for a percussion instrument first used only for drummers.
GO - JO BAGS are an instrument invented by SP and Joey Klaparda which are now being used in music therapy sessions around the world. They are available through WEST MUSIC CATALOG

One of rock's most talented and skilled drummers, Stephen Perkins' tribal and powerful drumming style served as a main ingredient for the wide-ranging sound of alt-rock greats Jane's Addiction. Shortly after co-founding the group in the mid-'80s with singer Perry Farrell, bassist Eric Avery, and guitarist Dave Navarro (the latter of which Perkins was in a thrash metal band with previously), Jane's Addiction became the talk of the Los Angeles underground as their unpredictable and high-energy stage show, gender-bending look, and sonic mix of punk, funk, metal, jazz, and haunting ballads hit a nerve with a diverse rock crowd. Although the quartet only issued three albums during their original tenure together (1987's live self-titled debut, 1988's Nothing's Shocking, and 1990's Ritual de lo Habitual), they left an indelible impression on the rock world, helping to introduce alternative music to a wider audience and opening the doors for other bands that were soon to follow in their wake (Nirvana, Tool, etc.). After headlining the inaugural Lollapalooza tour in 1991 (which Farrell had organized), Jane's Addiction split up.

Perkins stuck with Farrell, however, as they enlisted bassist Martyn LeNoble and guitarist Peter DiStefano for their new project, Porno for Pyros. While the new outfit didn't match the success of its predecessor, the group issued two inspired and well-received albums -- 1993's self-titled release and 1996's Good God's Urge -- before breaking up as well. Perkins reunited with his former Jane's Addiction mates (sans Avery) for a pair of successful reunion tours in 1997 and 2001(which were preceded by a live/demo set, Kettle Whistle, which was compiled by Perkins). In addition to his Jane's Addiction duties, Perkins is a much in-demand session drummer (lending his talents to albums by Sheryl Crow, Jewel, Rage Against the Machine, No Doubt, Nine Inch Nails, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers), as well as indulging in the all-star experimental outfit Banyan with former Minutemen bassist Mike Watt . Banyan issued a pair of albums by the year 2001: 1997's self-titled debut and 1999's Anytime at All. Perkins was also a brief member of the funk metal outfit Infectious Grooves (playing on their 1991 debut The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move), manned the drum kit for Tommy Lee's Methods of Mayhem 2000 tour, and spends his spare time giving drum clinics and hosting music therapy classes for the physically disabled (and developing percussive instruments for his own company, Perkana Percussion).